Radio tube carton



July 7, 1959 c. K. BATES RADIO wuss CARTON Filed July 2, 195a INVENTOR CHARLES K. BATES ATTORNEY nited States Patent fiice 2,893,623 Patented July 7, 1959 RADIO TUBE CARTON Charles K. Bates, Emporium, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Sylvania Electric Products Inc., Wllmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application July 2, 1958, Serial No. 746,294

3 Claims. (Cl. 229-39) This invention relates to improvements in radio tube cartons wherein there is provided portions which securely hold the tube against undue movement in the carton and which avoids previous problems in inserting tubes into the cartons.

An object of the invention is to provide a radio tube receiving carton which can be readily constructed from a single blank.

Another object of the invention is to provide a radio tube receiving carton which can be formed and stored in a collapsed condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carton containing inclined insertion guidance means integral therewith to assist in tube insertion within the carton.

These and other objects will become apparent in the light of the following disclosure taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank in its flat condition from which the carton, in accordance with the invention, is constructed.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of a carton in its partially collapsed condition.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the erected carton, showing the interior thereof.

Fig. 4 is a view of a set up and filled carton with a side .panel removed to show how a tube is positioned within the carton.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but with the back panel removed.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a box blank stamped or cut out from a sheet of cardboard or the like which has a series of successive panels 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 connected along fold lines or creases 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34. The panels are in effect divided into two groups, i.e., panels 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 which are separated from each other by parallel fold lines 24, 26, 28 and 30 and panels 18, 20 and 22 which are separated from each other by fold lines 32 and 34, the fold line 32 being parallel to the fold line 34. Both fold lines 32 and 34 are at an angle relative to the other fold lines 24, 26, 28 and 30. Panel 18, it will be noted is common to both groups of panels and is therefore a transitional panel. Panels 10, 12, 14 and 16 are provided with conventional end flaps, indicated generically as 17, for closing the ends of the carton. The transitional panel 18 in the formed carton is provided with an adhesive coating for securing it to panel 10.

A tube restraining pocket 36 is formed in panel 20 and consists of two flaps 38, 40 produced by a longitudinal cut 42, two transverse cuts 44 and 46, and by longitudinal scorings 48. The longitudinal cut 42 is parallel to the fold lines 32, 34, which are the boundaries of panel 20; the transverse cuts 44, 46, are perpendicular to the longitudinal cut but are not of equal length. The shorter of the transverse cuts, 46, is closest to the center, lengthwise, of the carton.

Panel 20 is partially severed from panel 18 by a cut 49 which is at right angles to fold line 32 which forms one boundary of the panel 20. To obtain the desired degree of inclination of the pocket containing panel 20 the ratio of the free end, indicated as a, of panel 18 to the unsevered portion, indicated as b, of panel 18 may be varied. These dimensions are also determinative of the corresponding dimensions of panel 22 so that when the carton is made up, the upper and lower edges of the panel 20 will be at the same height, transversely of the carton, although the panel itself is inclined longitudinally. In one embodiment of the invention the value of a is V2" and that of b is $4". The dimension b also determines the spacing of the lowermost portion of the panel 20 from the back panel 16 when the carton is set up.

The carton is formed by folding along the crease lines 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34 and panel 18 is glued to panel 10 with the crease line 30 aligned with the free edge of panel 10. End panel 22 may be glued to panel 14 although this is not necessary for the functioning of the carton.

Fig. 2 shows a completed carton in a partially collapsed condition. When it is desired to erect the carton it may be done by simply squeezing the collapsed carton at the points indicated by the arrows P thus causing the carton panels to assume the position illustrated in Fig. 3.

When a tube 50 such as a type 1B3 rectifier having an anode cap, is to be placed into the erected carton it is positioned, cap first, inside of the carton and opposite the lower edge of the inclined panel 20. As the insertion of the tube is continued, the rounded leading edge of the envelope contacts and rides up over the edge of the panel 20. The inclination of the panel enables easy insertion of the tube into the carton since it guides the tube into position. Continued insertion of the tube causes the leading edge of the bulb to contact the flaps 38, 40 and to bend them back along the scorelines 48. The resiliency of the material forces the tube against the panel 12 as the insertion continues. If the flaps 38, 40 be repositioned in a direction transversely of panel 20, the tube may additionally bear on either panel 10 or 14 depending on the direction of repositioning. The tube is further inserted until totally enclosed within the carton at which time the ends of the carton are closed. The resiliency of the flaps 38, 40 and of the wall panels upon which the tube bears is suflicient to restrain the free movement of the tube within the carton. The configuration of the flaps 38, 40 causes a large portion of the tube to be encompassed as the tube progresses into the carton.

Figs. 4 and 5 show the tube 50 in its fully inserted position and indicate how the flaps 38, 40 cooperate with the walls or panels of the carton to restrain movement of the tube. They also illustrate the wedging action within the carton due to the inclination of panel 20 which contains the restraining pocket formed by the flaps 38, 40.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A collapsible radio tube carton formed from a folded single blank comprising seven adjacent panels joined together by fold lines said panels being divided into two groups with the fold line which forms the dividing line between the two groups at an acute angle with respect to the fold lines of the first group, said first group comprising a front panel, a back panel and two side panels forming the exterior of the erected carton, a transitional panel having a fold line of said first group of panels as one side thereof and having the fold line of said second group of panels as the opposing side thereof, said second group of panels consisting of an end panel and a second panel having a tube restraining pocket therein, said second panel being inclined within the erected carton, and serving to restrain a tube between said second paneland the front panel.

2. A collapsible radio tube carton formed from a folded single blank comprising seven adjacent panels joined together by fold lines said panels being divided into two groups with the fold line which forms the dividing line between the two groups at an :acute angle with respect to the fold lines of the first group, said first group comprising a front panel, a back panel and two side panels forming the exterior of the erected carton, a transitional panel having a fold line of said first group of panels as one side thereof and having the fold line of said second group of panels as the opposing side thereof, said second group of panels consisting of an end panel and a second panel having a tube restraining pocket therein, said second panel being inclined within the erected carton, and serving to restrain a tube between said second panel and the front panel, one edge of the second panel lying closer to the front panel than the opposite edge of the second panel and said second panel having its first edge closer to an adjacent end of the carton than the said opposite edge is to the second end of the carton.

3. A carton according to claim 2 wherein said tube restraining pocket is in the form of a trapezoid having its greatest width adjacent said first edge of the inclined panel.

Currivan Sept. 23, 1952 Bolding Ian. 24, 1956 

